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Why today is a very special day for Princess Mary and Prince Frederik

Prince Frederik laughs of talk of tension with mum with animated display

Prince Frederik laughs of talk of tension with mum with animated display

Princess Mary all smiles as she steps out with Fred and the kids

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Prince Frederik has a secret tattoo and you’ll never guess what it says

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Why Princess Mary's leaving Fred and the kids for the US

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Mary and Frederik’s historical royal news

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Margrethe’s harsh warning to Princess Mary: 'Don’t let Fred turn into his dad!'

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Royal bad blood: Mary and Marie are sisters at war

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Mary and Fred's family feud explodes

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ROYAL SCANDALS: Prince Frederik & the lingerie model

Before there was Mary, a bikini babe captured the prince's heart. - by Josephine Agostino
  • 02 Apr 2019
ROYAL SCANDALS: Prince Frederik & the lingerie model

Before Prince Frederik laid eyes on real estate broker Mary Donaldson at a Sydney pub, the Danish royal never failed to have a beautiful woman on his arm.

But what many don’t know is that one of those companions, lingerie model Katja Storkholm, was the first woman he hoped would be his future queen. In her book, 1015 Copenhagen K, veteran royal reporter Trine Villemann wrote that Katja was the “true love” of Frederik’s life.

frederik

Prince Frederik and Katja Storkholm

An unsuitable proposal

The couple dated when the young prince was in his twenties and completing military training. “When he had to go and perform royal duties which he didn’t like, she would go over speeches with him and suggest changes and coach him. They were a real team,” Villemann wrote. It was widely reported that after more than two years of being “head over heels in love”, Frederik secretly proposed. His mother, Queen Margrethe, forbade the union, all because, says Villeman, of a tradition in the Danish royal family that they marry non-Danish partners.

Mary takes over

Prince Frederik, now 50, then dated glamorous Danish pop singer Maria Montell, who he was with for a year before meeting Mary in 2000 during the Sydney olympic games. The fact that Katja and Mary share many similar features isn’t lost on royal watchers.

Villemann asserts that 47-year-old Mary, who has fulfilled her role as Denmark’s Crown Princess for 14 years, felt like Princess Diana for a long time – the third wheel between two people who still had a lingering attachment – and that Frederik still kept in regular contact with Katja.

prince frederik

Prince Frederik and Princess Mary

Regardless, they have a seemingly happy family life with their four children, Prince Christian, 13, Princess Isabella, 11, and twins Princess Josephine and Prince Vincent, 8. Toasting her son at his 50th birthday gala last year, Queen Margrethe praised Frederik for his choice of bride.

“When you found Mary, a new period of life began. Then you were two, then three, then four – indeed, six! A whole family that everybody can take pleasure in, and a family that many are pleased to follow and see themselves reflected in.

"You and Mary have succeeded in creating a safe and warm family life while both of you together and individually assume tasks that take you to faraway places. The two of you make Denmark bigger, and you are a credit to Denmark. You make me so happy!”

Former model Katja, meanwhile, ended her marriage to lawyer Chresten Plinius in 2009.

For more of the monarchy's most shocking moments, pick up the Collector's Edition of New Idea Royal Scandals, on sale now!

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In this collector's edition of New Idea, we reveal all the lies, scandals, secrets and affairs, including 50+ of the monarchy's most scandalous moments that shocked the world. On sale now in selected newsagents and supermarkets or buy online at subscribetoday.com.au.
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Josephine Agostino

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Home and Away opening title
Watch 1:09

Home and Away opening title

{headline}

{headline}

Why today is a very special day for Princess Mary and Prince Frederik

Prince Frederik laughs of talk of tension with mum with animated display

Prince Frederik laughs of talk of tension with mum with animated display

Princess Mary all smiles as she steps out with Fred and the kids

Prince Frederik has a secret tattoo and you’ll never guess what it says

Prince Frederik has a secret tattoo and you’ll never guess what it says

{headline}

{headline}

Princess Mary's hell: What Prince Frederik's been hiding

Mary and Fred: Married again!

The truth about Princess Mary and Prince Frederik's love story

{headline}

{headline}

Mary and Fred’s hell: Palace war erupts

Why Princess Mary's leaving Fred and the kids for the US

Why Princess Mary's leaving Fred and the kids for the US

Mary and Frederik’s historical royal news

Mary and Frederik’s historical royal news

Margrethe’s harsh warning to Princess Mary: 'Don’t let Fred turn into his dad!'

Margrethe’s harsh warning to Princess Mary: 'Don’t let Fred turn into his dad!'

Royal bad blood: Mary and Marie are sisters at war

Royal bad blood: Mary and Marie are sisters at war

Mary and Fred's family feud explodes

Mary and Fred's family feud explodes

Princess Mary's COVID Christmas plans revealed

Princess Mary's COVID Christmas plans revealed

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